Review:

Don't even try to remotely criticize a "Hayao Miyazaki" film if you're life depended on it. And on that note, as strong as these words are: even if it did, you'd probably be begging your doomsayer to give you one more screening of either "Nausicaa", "Totoro", "Cagliostro", "Porco Rosso" or "Mononoke".

On top of it all, one thing would be undeniably certain. One helping of all, or any one of those wouldn't be enough to fill our imaginations. Of everyone or anyone for that matter, quite possibly even the main man himself; responsible for bringing such magic to the screen in the only way he can. It is through the wonderful world of animation. Now I'm not sure what this world I speak of resembles, but I do know that it's a small world which encompasses both peculiar & charming things like: talking cats & comely bakers who house young witches in training.

In what is perhaps he most realized & dignified work to date, Miyazaki paints beautifully a luscious & exhilarating world; chalk-full of vibrant colors, dynamic set-ups and of course a decent array of busy, BUSY vistas. Customary, one might be inclined to say about this man's films; which manage not only to inspire us by sheer look alone, rather something deeper which can be found amid the history & impeccable talent with his entourage of masterpieces. So abundant & renowned in fact, that it's often difficult to comprehend such notions about animation film making. That for which Miyazaki is truly a master of his craft. He is not only an inspiration, the guy's a genuine cultural treasure.

This 1989 follow-up to the wonderful "My Neighbor Totoro" (a beyond clever childrens' fable of majestic forest spirits), is a little coming-of-age tale which just so happens to be my favorite Miyazaki film & favorite movie. "Kiki's Delivery Service" is a film adaption of the original narrative written by "Eiko Kadono". Taking place in a mystical era devoid of the reality of war, seemingly way before the cataclysmic foreshadowing of Mononoke, & still only slight beyond remnants of the child realm that is My Neighbor Totoro.

The joy of Miyazaki's works is found in his gift to conjure unique worlds. As expressions of a great film maker, each world speaks wonders for the man's thoughts & ideas, yet all carry unique qualities all their own. Which (thankfully) never cross paths with one another mainly regarding context or period.

This is the kind of movie that makes me want to get up & walk outside after each viewing. It's the wonderful sort which makes me want to tell everyone how great it is, so that I may hope to further spread my thoughts with the world. And what a world indeed that the film is. Here's a movie that is both artfully drawn out & skillfully executed. Carrying just the right amount of direction for flavor. Miyazaki the man, knows how to direct; & moreover it's what he does very best.

The title of "Kiki's Delivery Service" refers to a distinct aspect of the story which involves the bakery service which Kiki starts near the beginning of the film. In fact, this has little or nothing to do with the actual outcome of the plot. The film is foremost a truly wonderful exercise & example of values regarding love & friendship. Only a skeptic 'bluenose' could find fault.

"Kiki", our hero of the story, has just turned 13. In witch language that's the equivalent of: "Go away from home & live independently for one whole year so that you may become a full-fledged witch"! All in all, the story is one of triumph & redemption against odds which plague our heros & their human encounters. Miyazaki like in the past, formulates a series of tiny conflicts which aid a small struggle (notice I say "small struggles").

This creates an overwhelming, almost pleasant sense of vulnerability; which is foremost Miyazaki's trademark in fixating a decent storyline under his brush. However, this is the act of nit-picking while examining the actual occurences of his movies. Miyazaki's stories are never forced like some over-played melodrama or wretched kiddie flick. They are foremost undeniably human emotion stories, played to such excellence that they start to seem like tiny vignettes. They are linear however; not spasmodic.

When I think about it, to me it seems that no one draws facial expressions & human characters better than Hayao Miyazaki. His characters are both sane, temperate & abysmal in tone. The expressions on their faces seem both overwhelming & abundant at times. As he displayed wonderfully in "Totoro", human mouths can be either peep-holes or enourmous caves.

The very first time Kiki arrives to the big city in our story (Which is more like a huge small town), there is an enourmous array of people of all shapes & kinds. They roam the sidewalks & streets like there's no tomorrow, & yet there are many distinct styles & habitudes. Indeed, it is a world all it's own, wandering around aimlessly as only a pure artistic hand could mold them.

It should come as a small surprise that some 80s style clothing can be observed. As well as a shard 90s & even some old-fashioned prime-50s styles before the wake of wartime aftermath; or any notions Miyazaki might hope to omit in a self-conjured environment for that matter. Mostly however, the look and feel of the movie is relatively timeless. This is the layout of his films. They are magnificent worlds engorged with sight, sounds, emotion & bright, cheerful colors.

During the beginning of the film, Kiki accidently finds herself drawn into the busy hum bub of traffic on the streets. She is stopped by a police officer who threatens (perhaps that is even too strong of a word to use here) to inform her parents that she's a safety hazzard of sorts (observe the keenly woven dialogue during this scene; it is both humble & observant). All of a sudden, ambient voices are heard & somebody yells: "thief!". The officer comes to aid of the caller & tells Kiki to stay put.

This may sound inconsequential to the mood or feeling of the story, but Miyazaki is both playful & open-minded to different terrain in his movies. And even some things, like when Kiki calmly & quietly runs off, as she is soon slowed by a young boy passing on bicycle (who happens to be the caller), is a real treasure of a scene. It is also of a gleeful excellence & nature which could only occur in his films (You'd think that these characters seldom even think about their whereabouts, when they're just too busy being themselves). Such cinematic expression is unsurpassed.

Of course, Kiki undergoes many obstacles & meets a great deal of people. Some are joyous & helpful in tone. Others prove to be more of a problem for Kiki, who is in proper training to become a witch, but has to overcome the hurdles of adolescence like everyone else. This is the core of the film as well as the heart of the movie. Which sort of plays out like a permutation of different narratives; each one interwoven, yet every single one encompassing the meaning of the story in some fashion.

Miyazaki is of course clever, he's also a master of utilizing space. He dares not force the exposition of the film's plot onto us. The need only be expressed to present characters who are both intelligent, kind-hearted & focused within their own story archetypes. Who's of which merely cross paths, they seldom intersect one another (then the film would be too self-conscious to be effective).

How does Miyazaki achieve this do you ask? Well, the answer is he doesn't do so by plot alone (if that were true there'd be no Miyazaki fans). The man is renowned for a great deal many things, and one of them is artistic vision & artistry. Simply the backdrops alone of Kiki's Delivery Service are drop-jaw gorgeous; & often requires a great deal of eye-candy. You might find that you need to watch the film once to soak in all the vision & fun, and once more to appreciate the feeling & emotions.

Unlike movies like Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service is a movie with vision & appeal that might take time to appreciate. Repeated viewings are recommended, but if undertaken, it won't be for that reason alone. You'll want to watch it again & again because it's complete entertainment of the purest kind, without any hint of reservation. The movie understands patience in order to properly tell a good story.

I can't list all the truly beautiful moments in the film. It's fun just to watch Miyazaki's layout of "Osono's" bakery, as Kiki seeks the terrain of town looking for friends & new adventures. The boy in the beginning of the film "Tombo", would more or less be a love interest for the pre-teen witch; but Miyazaki's vision takes place in a humbler time. When the beauty of notions such as love & friendship are played out to the hindmost, as simply beautiful moments in time. As if recollections of a lost childhood or dream, and it's not always a straight road surprisingly enough. Sometimes dreams are shattered for Kiki. Such are the moments when she begins to loose her 'witches powers', a dark turn in the story (which is only dark under strict standards of Miyazaki fare).

However, Kiki discovers inspiration in many high & low places, which is quite arguably what the whole movie is all about. Finding your special place in the world, & realizing what it all means to you individually. There are not villians in the movie, people utilize love & friendship as a weapon of choice. Once again stated, they are never forced upon us; they are only allowed to breath freely in a magical palette, which in turn Miyazaki himself has created through wonderful artistry.

And yet, there are times in the movie that I've noticed over the years watching it. Small hints which supporting characters such as Osono the baker & "Ursula" the comely & quirky painter share: This is quite evident through consistent 'winks' and gleams of hope toward Kiki & her chatty cat "Jiji". An enourmous sense that somehow, everything will turn out alright in the end (Since nothing's ever been known to go wrong in Miyazaki's artsy kingdom).

There is another moment in the film when Ursula invites Kiki out to the country for a small break. Kiki is there to rediscover herself. There are humble & beautifully crafted passages amid these moments. A painting sits dormantly in Ursula's cabin, which resembles Kiki; and some of the inspiration her own life has emanated for the people of this small town trapped in time. Like in turn was said: Kiki & Ursula need to find their own inspiration. And as a result, Kiki herself is greatly inspired by Ursula's painting.

If the characters in Miyazaki's world can be inspired by art alone, just think of all the wonderful inspiration which can be drawn out from Miyazaki's own world, from our 'real' world. The next thing that I don't have to tell you is that: even though it was a tad on the brusque side (which I believe it's not anyway), the end of Kiki's Delivery Service always leaves me in happy tears.

~This Has Been Yet Another One Of "T.A.O.'s" New Reviews Of Classic Anime Titles.~